Whois & Analysis for exploit-db.com

An exploit (from the English verb to exploit, meaning "using something to one’s own advantage") is a piece of software, a chunk of data, or a sequence of commands that takes advantage of a bug or vulnerability in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behavior to occur on computer software, hardware, or something electronic (usually computerized).

Such behavior frequently includes things like gaining control of a computer system, allowing privilege escalation, or a denial-of-service (DoS or related DDoS) attack.

In hacking, a shellcode is a small piece of code used as the payload in the exploitation of a software vulnerability.

It is called "shellcode" because it typically starts a command shell from which the attacker can control the compromised machine, but any piece of code that performs a similar task can be called shellcode.

Because the function of a payload is not limited to merely spawning a shell, some have suggested that the name shellcode is insufficient.

However, attempts at replacing the term have not gained wide acceptance.

A security hacker is someone who seeks to breach defenses and exploit weaknesses in a computer system or network.

Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, such as profit, protest, information gathering, challenge, recreation, or to evaluate system weaknesses to assist in formulating defenses against potential hackers.

The subculture that has evolved around hackers is often referred to as the computer underground.

In computing, a web application or web app is a client–server software application in which the client (or user interface) runs in a web browser.

Common web applications include webmail, online retail sales, online auctions, wikis, instant messaging services and many other functions.

In computer security, a vulnerability is a weakness which allows an attacker to reduce a system's information assurance.

Vulnerability is the intersection of three elements: a system susceptibility or flaw, attacker access to the flaw, and attacker capability to exploit the flaw.

To exploit a vulnerability, an attacker must have at least one applicable tool or technique that can connect to a system weakness.

In this frame, vulnerability is also known as the attack surface.